tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-85525620801550437522015-11-09T13:47:27.214-05:00Where's Shan Now?The story of how I decide to take a year off and travel around the world.shanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08801704430641971466noreply@blogger.comBlogger326125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8552562080155043752.post-90872792313619613382013-10-19T10:02:00.000-04:002013-10-19T10:02:01.903-04:00Recap: A Sailing Adventure<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I'd been asked why I never mentioned here that I was going back to Panama to go sailing (as evidenced by <a href="http://whereisshannow.blogspot.com/2013/10/boat-life.html">this post</a> and <a href="http://whereisshannow.blogspot.com/2013/10/sailing.html">this one</a>). My answer was that I'd mostly already told everyone about it in person, so I guess I didn't really feel the need. But now that I'm back home I can expand on things a bit more.</span><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-qXi_I6C7wNI/UmHNIidGkRI/AAAAAAAAEw4/l1CTlDlQU2M/s1600/Sailing+(39).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-qXi_I6C7wNI/UmHNIidGkRI/AAAAAAAAEw4/l1CTlDlQU2M/s320/Sailing+(39).JPG" width="240" /></a></div><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Those of you who first heard about this in person know that the original plan was to go back to Bocas del Toro to meet up with friends and sail from there to Columbia. It was an opportunity too good to pass up. Most of you also know by now that Columbia didn't happen. One thing after another piled up and it just became kind of an impossibility. Regardless, the two and a half weeks I spent on the boat were pretty awesome. Here, now, are some more pics and more details...</span><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-qYc3713ZE_s/UmHM4tTEhFI/AAAAAAAAEw0/Xw_KEZnkeGs/s1600/Sailing+%252820%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-qYc3713ZE_s/UmHM4tTEhFI/AAAAAAAAEw0/Xw_KEZnkeGs/s320/Sailing+%252820%2529.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">What was it like living on a boat? Pretty laid back, actually. The three of us tended to wake up early-ish, do some kind of activity - swimming, exercise, a light hike, surfing (I don't surf, but I can take <a href="http://www.goneglobaladventures.com/2013/10/lifestyles.html">surf pics</a>!), snorkeling, diving - and then retreat back to the boat for naps/reading/dominoes. We'd collaborate on dinner, play more dominoes, and then go to bed early-ish.</span><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-V2N7bjoXjBY/UmHM3iP3hEI/AAAAAAAAEws/raBun-f-IEI/s1600/Sailing+%252834%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-V2N7bjoXjBY/UmHM3iP3hEI/AAAAAAAAEws/raBun-f-IEI/s320/Sailing+%252834%2529.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Speaking of food on the boat: Damn, we ate good! We caught fish and lobster so we had fish tacos and Creole lobster Alfredo. Chorizo jambalaya, blackened chicken sandwiches, veggie stir fry, and stuffed pumpkin were just some of the dishes we had. Although I like to cook, I only cooked a couple of times because Matt (the captain) really likes to cook too and the captain always gets what he wants!</span><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-_IoOwlPB-Vw/UmHNKZXLM5I/AAAAAAAAExM/uYPzTPuDQpc/s1600/Sailing+%252835%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-_IoOwlPB-Vw/UmHNKZXLM5I/AAAAAAAAExM/uYPzTPuDQpc/s320/Sailing+%252835%2529.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">So what was my job on the boat, then? I'm not a sailor, have never sailed a day in my life, actually. Primarily I was the dishwasher, but I was also the general tidier and picker-upper. My most important job, however, was Chief Rum Drink Maker. Apparently, I'm good at it. :) Also, the last day on the boat before we docked it at the marina and headed back to the States was major work-on-the-boat day. All of the interior wood needed to be oiled, the bathroom and refrigerator needed to be cleaned, the floors had to be wiped down, laundry had to be done, water tanks had to be filled, and surf boards and other toys needed to be brought below deck. I didn't do ALL of that work, but I definitely did my fair share - it was my last chance to prove myself useful!</span><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-LTyhAB02xc8/UmHTY5py7bI/AAAAAAAAExY/Y5d7lcqODs8/s1600/Sailing+(32).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-LTyhAB02xc8/UmHTY5py7bI/AAAAAAAAExY/Y5d7lcqODs8/s320/Sailing+(32).JPG" width="320" /></a></div><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">And how was it to be in such tight quarters with two boys? Not <i>too</i>&nbsp;bad, although I did tell them that never in my life have I been around so much spitting, burping, or farting haha. We teased the hell out of each other and basically never stopped giving someone a hard time. But really, we all got along and did our part to be useful when we needed to be and stay out of each other's way when that was needed more. I had to smile the night that all three of us were working in the tiny galley kitchen at the same time. Matt was chopping on one end, I was chopping in the middle, and Austin was stirring at the stove. Aw! How family-like and homey! :)</span><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-w7ZTstSh3nM/UmHM3ju_pPI/AAAAAAAAEwo/yjWVUgcKkRg/s1600/Sailing+%252824%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-w7ZTstSh3nM/UmHM3ju_pPI/AAAAAAAAEwo/yjWVUgcKkRg/s320/Sailing+%252824%2529.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Didn't <i>anything</i>&nbsp;exciting happen? Hmmm, no, I suppose not by traditional definitions. I didn't <a href="http://whereisshannow.blogspot.com/2010/07/southern-alps.html">bungee jump</a> or see any <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/slkirkpatrick/4087287379/in/set-72157622766290702">famous</a> <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/slkirkpatrick/4042457082/in/set-72157622642685946">monuments</a> or experience a major "<a href="http://whereisshannow.blogspot.com/2010/04/scuba.html">first</a>." I saw a big-ass spotted manta ray while snorkeling one day and an up close pod of dolphins swimming alongside the boat (I've never seen them that close before), both of those things were pretty cool, but not exciting per se. No, it was just a time to relax and get away from it all.</span><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-asrgOyr43IM/UmHNKYEErJI/AAAAAAAAExI/Av2NVqfcpdA/s1600/Sailing+%252841%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-asrgOyr43IM/UmHNKYEErJI/AAAAAAAAExI/Av2NVqfcpdA/s320/Sailing+%252841%2529.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Speaking of getting away from it all...the farthest we ever got was <a href="https://maps.google.com/maps?q=Cusapin+Cays,+Kusap%C3%ADn,+Ng%C3%B6be+Bugl%C3%A9,+Panama&amp;hl=en&amp;ie=UTF8&amp;ll=9.183447,-81.881104&amp;spn=0.591078,0.486145&amp;sll=8.942053,-81.469116&amp;sspn=1.182935,0.97229&amp;oq=cus+panama&amp;hnear=Cusapin+Cays&amp;t=m&amp;z=10">this general area</a>. But make no mistake - we were definitely in the middle of nowhere. We were the only white people we saw for days and, with few exceptions, no one spoke any English. We were such an oddity, too. The locals would paddle out in their <i>cayucos</i>&nbsp;and just kind of watch us/look at the boat from a distance. Some of the braver ones would venture closer and initiate conversation. (One super brave kid named Wilbur actually climbed on the boat when we were below deck. I had to go up and tell him he wasn't allowed to do that!) The kids loved to run errands for us - when we tired of chatting, we'd send them off to get coconuts or oranges for us (we would pay them, of course). The adults would bring different kids over each day because everyone wanted a close look. Sometimes they'd try to sell us stuff we didn't need (homemade crafts and such) and sometimes they'd ask us for gifts. We were asked for books, cookies, sugar for coffee, clothing, water. No electricity in the village meant that they weren't used to cold water. They found it quite odd and always made a face when drinking it, but word soon got out and all of our visitors were asking for this strange drink.</span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I knew more Spanish than Matt and Austin, so I ended up being our translator. I admit that I surprised myself with just how much I knew. If we hadn't been in such a remote area, I don't know that I ever would have figured that out. Don't get me wrong, though - I definitely need a lot more practice!</span><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-NldRvMiVRjU/UmHk00pGXmI/AAAAAAAAExo/HjnYqE9tyZs/s1600/Sailing+(16).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-NldRvMiVRjU/UmHk00pGXmI/AAAAAAAAExo/HjnYqE9tyZs/s320/Sailing+(16).JPG" width="320" /></a></div><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">So that's about it, my grand sailing to Columbia adventure that never was! I think the guys will make another attempt sometime early next year, but I don't know if I'll be included in those plans or not.&nbsp;</span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">What's next for me? The job search is in full swing. Beyond a trip back east for the holidays, I have no major travel plans. But you all know me - more travel is absolutely in my future!</span>shanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08801704430641971466noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8552562080155043752.post-31370418089062696632013-10-10T11:38:00.000-04:002013-10-10T11:38:00.399-04:00Sailing<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-D081DbMf3Zk/UlQlMiYdNwI/AAAAAAAAEvE/aZfMPGK5ONo/s1600/Sailing+(11).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br /><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-D081DbMf3Zk/UlQlMiYdNwI/AAAAAAAAEvE/aZfMPGK5ONo/s320/Sailing+(11).JPG" width="240" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">&nbsp;<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-BU-3d20mJ5g/UlQlQL0s7jI/AAAAAAAAEvU/XdcV-4AZM50/s1600/Sailing+(18).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-BU-3d20mJ5g/UlQlQL0s7jI/AAAAAAAAEvU/XdcV-4AZM50/s320/Sailing+(18).JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">&nbsp;<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-2WQXDZrv1m0/UlQltSaykpI/AAAAAAAAEvc/CR-hxiuvHuI/s1600/Sailing+(21).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-2WQXDZrv1m0/UlQltSaykpI/AAAAAAAAEvc/CR-hxiuvHuI/s320/Sailing+(21).JPG" width="240" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Lr5K2eVSx0Y/UlQlOZa5t_I/AAAAAAAAEvQ/U5ERviz8iE0/s1600/Bocas+del+Toro+%252845%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Lr5K2eVSx0Y/UlQlOZa5t_I/AAAAAAAAEvQ/U5ERviz8iE0/s320/Bocas+del+Toro+%252845%2529.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">So this is pretty much how my days have been looking...</span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>shanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08801704430641971466noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8552562080155043752.post-12776124237350908692013-10-08T11:24:00.002-04:002013-10-08T11:24:31.435-04:00Boat life<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-QX65hexb2X4/UlQjKPd__EI/AAAAAAAAEu4/xAz5gmKJvgY/s1600/Boat+life.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="211" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-QX65hexb2X4/UlQjKPd__EI/AAAAAAAAEu4/xAz5gmKJvgY/s320/Boat+life.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />shanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08801704430641971466noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8552562080155043752.post-23039640583515267192013-09-13T12:39:00.001-04:002013-09-13T12:39:58.223-04:0022<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">In the last five years, I've spent 15 months traveling, so that means 15 of the last 60 months (which, somehow, sounds like more to me) were spent with passport in hand. That, of course, doesn't include long weekend jaunts here and there.</span><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Z53MUe-8Oec/UjM-R0NY_2I/AAAAAAAAEug/NpyTwnWk9-0/s1600/Bocas+del+Toro+(32).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Z53MUe-8Oec/UjM-R0NY_2I/AAAAAAAAEug/NpyTwnWk9-0/s320/Bocas+del+Toro+(32).JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><i>(Bocas del Toro)</i></span></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The title of the post - 22 - comes from the number of countries I've visited on my own now. In case you're keeping track or need a refresher, they are: Mexico, Spain, Czech Republic, Greece, Turkey, Egypt, United Arab Emirates, India, Thailand, Laos, Vietnam, Cambodia, Malaysia, Indonesia, Australia, New Zealand, Belize, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua, Costa Rica, and Panama. Besides the US, there are four others that I've visited with friends: Canada, Jamaica, Bahamas, and Scotland. I miscounted prior to this trip and for some reason thought my Central America travels would bring my country count up to 30. I was wrong, so it looks like I'll have to keep trying. :-)</span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">My passport only has three blank pages in it now and it doesn't expire for four years, so I'll probably end up needing to have pages added before too long.</span><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-RsmfBxblJRc/UjM-R22jBPI/AAAAAAAAEuk/WLx8WUG58-A/s1600/Bocas+del+Toro+%252838%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-RsmfBxblJRc/UjM-R22jBPI/AAAAAAAAEuk/WLx8WUG58-A/s320/Bocas+del+Toro+%252838%2529.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><i>(Pink sunset at Bocas)</i></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br />shanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08801704430641971466noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8552562080155043752.post-70376928657003893912013-09-11T15:06:00.000-04:002013-09-11T15:06:04.150-04:00Water activities<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I've officially been back on US soil for about 24 hours now, but because my last few days in Panama were spent on a sailboat I didn't have tons of internet connectivity to let you all know of my comings and goings. Here's how it played out...</span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Last Friday I met up with a couchsurfer who'd invited me to stay on his boat that he had docked at the Isla Carrenero marina in Bocas del Toro. There were three beautiful, lovely days of hanging out in the cockpit, taking the dinghy to go snorkeling, diving, and spearfishing for lobsters, with liberal amounts of Panama beer and rum cocktails taking up the time in between. I even went wakesurfing for the first time! The guys had much better runs than me, but they surf and I've never even come close to standing on a surf board before, so I consider it a success. :)</span><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-GLI_xIYm5K4/UjC61hswXvI/AAAAAAAAEt4/QSV3Pa46PfY/s1600/Bocas+del+Toro+(18).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-GLI_xIYm5K4/UjC61hswXvI/AAAAAAAAEt4/QSV3Pa46PfY/s320/Bocas+del+Toro+(18).JPG" width="320" /></a></div><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I had the opportunity to meet friends and be introduced to people I never would have met otherwise. We were all invited to dinner one night - the house was gorgeous and right on the water. The food was simple but very delicious (I was considering my third plate when I decided that might be a bit much!), and the company was great.</span><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-MHrivzUm9J0/UjC8IllD5xI/AAAAAAAAEuI/Q1e-8ujfxy0/s1600/Bocas+del+Toro+(9).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-MHrivzUm9J0/UjC8IllD5xI/AAAAAAAAEuI/Q1e-8ujfxy0/s320/Bocas+del+Toro+(9).JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><i>(My home was the boat second from the right)</i></span></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">It's strange because for at least a week I'd been <i>really</i>&nbsp;ready to head home. But here I was, days away from being back in the US for the first time in months, days away from seeing friends and family...and yet I was wishing I had another week to spend with my new found friends. Just such a good vibe, ya know?</span><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-4eVnDRjNzKc/UjC8IrMQsjI/AAAAAAAAEuE/gcynd9Dc8uw/s1600/Bocas+del+Toro+(14).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-4eVnDRjNzKc/UjC8IrMQsjI/AAAAAAAAEuE/gcynd9Dc8uw/s320/Bocas+del+Toro+(14).JPG" width="320" /></a></div><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I have a sister sitting here anxious to pull me away from the computer so we can go hang out and do sisterly things, so that's all for now. But I'll have a bigger update/change of plans in a few days, once I've worked out the details...</span>shanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08801704430641971466noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8552562080155043752.post-2345439623817339322013-09-08T13:41:00.000-04:002013-09-08T13:41:32.652-04:00I Miss, Part 2<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">As my 12 week Central America adventure begins to come to a close, I was inspired by <a href="http://whereisshannow.blogspot.com/2010/04/i-miss.html">my original "I Miss" post</a>&nbsp;to share some of the things I'm looking forward to once I return home. This will be bullet-style since there's no rhyme or reason to this list of randomness. :-)</span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">* Brunch - This will never change, I don't think. I love brunch and doing it the way we do it in the US is hard to come by when I travel.</span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">* Lack of humidity - San Diego has me spoiled now. There have been a few days here and there when I was at a high altitude and had some periods of coolness, but for the most part it's been hot and humid. Me no likey.</span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">* Good beer - Again, I have San Diego to thank for this. So many good microbrews and Central America has had me drinking "national" beers, their version of Bud or Miller Lite.</span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">* 2-ply toilet paper - No commentary necessary! Along with this is the ability to throw used tp in the toilet instead of the trash can.</span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">* My bed - No commentary needed here either.&nbsp;</span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">* Jeans and Converse - Just as a change up to what's currently in my pack.</span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">* Mexican food - San Diego, what have you done to me?!</span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">* Trivia nights - It's one of those new(ish) routines I had of the last 9-10 months and it will be fun to get back to it. We'll still lose lol, but at least I'll be hanging out with my buds.</span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">* Phone connections - I've been lucky enough on this trip to have access to free texting and phone calls, but those connections depend on wifi and it will be nice to have a call without echoes and weird long pauses.</span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">* Veggies! - Rice and beans are good and all, but damn do I miss good produce.</span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">* Working out - Yep, I miss it. I'm ready to get back into the gym.</span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">* Talking without thinking - It's tiring having to translate everything in your head before you say it. My Spanish just isn't good enough yet that I can talk without having to think it through first.</span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">* Not needing to worry about bites - sand flies, mosquitoes, bed bugs, mosquitoes, no-seeums, spiders, mosquitoes, ants, mosquitoes. I'm WELL over the bug bites.</span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">* Iced coffee - You just never know what you're gonna get when you order an iced coffee here and I just miss the real deal.</span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">As usual, this list seems to be dominated by food and drink...what can I say? I like eating and drinking! This time one week from now I'll be back in SD and getting started reacquainting myself with all the things on this list that I've missed.</span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>shanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08801704430641971466noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8552562080155043752.post-88009223505594576862013-09-05T13:06:00.000-04:002013-09-05T13:06:00.066-04:00Spanish by the Sea - Bocas del Toro<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">For the past two days, I've stayed at Spanish by the Sea, a cute hostel slash Spanish school in the center of Bocas del Toro. Check out my full review <a href="http://wp.me/p1kOnR-Xh">here</a>.</span><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-pifnc3MrBwI/UiicGjvmlSI/AAAAAAAAEto/WFhkD52N3c4/s1600/DSCF1003.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-pifnc3MrBwI/UiicGjvmlSI/AAAAAAAAEto/WFhkD52N3c4/s320/DSCF1003.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>shanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08801704430641971466noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8552562080155043752.post-39444962094297297582013-09-04T22:19:00.001-04:002013-09-04T22:19:14.359-04:00Bocas del Toro<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-evKIoE-znns/UifqIOSv5fI/AAAAAAAAEtY/LIbSHpzXt7Q/s1600/20130904_154242.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"> <img border="0" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-evKIoE-znns/UifqIOSv5fI/AAAAAAAAEtY/LIbSHpzXt7Q/s640/20130904_154242.jpg"> </a> </div>shanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08801704430641971466noreply@blogger.com0Bocas del Toro District, Bocas del Toro District9.335882 -82.25451tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8552562080155043752.post-74627427516423531842013-09-02T20:41:00.000-04:002013-09-02T20:41:08.810-04:00Puerto Viejo, Part II<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Whereas Friday and Saturday in PV were somewhat cloudy and overcast, Sunday was beautiful with clear blue skies. I was glad I'd chosen that day to rent a bike and make the 25km round-trip trek to Manzanillo to check out some of the area's beaches. I passed by Cocles, where I'd went the day before, and on to Playa Chiquita, Punta Uva, and Manzanillo. I chose Chiquita to be the place I actually hung out for awhile because it was the quietest (no good surf here) and (I thought) the prettiest. Plus, I was treated to howler monkeys in the treetops right above me. :-) </span><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Hdje5gc4jLs/UiUjQ0Qx8GI/AAAAAAAAEsQ/OIrjXqba8xE/s1600/Puerto+Viejo+(33).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Hdje5gc4jLs/UiUjQ0Qx8GI/AAAAAAAAEsQ/OIrjXqba8xE/s320/Puerto+Viejo+(33).JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><i>(My own little, well, big section of Chiquita)</i></span></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Monday, today, also dawned clear and blue and I thought about renting a bike again to go to the Jaguar Rescue Center and then to a chocolate tour, but the hostel owner recommended against it for the chocolate tour portion because he said that people with machetes have robbed tourists on that particular portion of road. O-K. So, no bike. :-/ It didn't seem worth it to me to just rent the bike for a couple of hours and since the center was only a half-hour walk away, I decided to just walk.&nbsp;</span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I should do as the guide at the JRC did and explain that the animals at the center at any given time are rescues, so they've been seized by people who were keeping them illegally as pets or they are injured/being rehabilitated in some way, so...I didn't actually see any jaguars. It's okay, though. I saw LOTS of super adorable baby sloths, cute owls, a baby caiman, a pretty eyelash viper, a deer that wouldn't stop licking my legs (uh, they were salty with sweat), and...we got to play with baby spider and howler monkeys. Squee! As always, below is just a sampling of pictures, <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/slkirkpatrick">more can be seen here</a>.</span><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Co64t-nXx9s/UiUrZeeWEFI/AAAAAAAAEss/-e0yXKh3fhs/s1600/Puerto+Viejo+(40).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Co64t-nXx9s/UiUrZeeWEFI/AAAAAAAAEss/-e0yXKh3fhs/s320/Puerto+Viejo+(40).JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-YAjBgKNfNl4/UiUrYcg1BMI/AAAAAAAAEsg/pl_oukN3-J8/s1600/Puerto+Viejo+(48).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-YAjBgKNfNl4/UiUrYcg1BMI/AAAAAAAAEsg/pl_oukN3-J8/s320/Puerto+Viejo+(48).JPG" width="240" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-fPO_82w26AQ/UiUrZFQYDGI/AAAAAAAAEsk/01uTmyAU1gw/s1600/Puerto+Viejo+(53).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-fPO_82w26AQ/UiUrZFQYDGI/AAAAAAAAEsk/01uTmyAU1gw/s320/Puerto+Viejo+(53).JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-jN9oK2815o4/UiUr7-bwWRI/AAAAAAAAEtA/UB3xpV6u874/s1600/Puerto+Viejo+(54).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-jN9oK2815o4/UiUr7-bwWRI/AAAAAAAAEtA/UB3xpV6u874/s320/Puerto+Viejo+(54).JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-zv46lFft0tc/UiUr8LOp9RI/AAAAAAAAEs4/H2fZvqpni7g/s1600/Puerto+Viejo+(62).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-zv46lFft0tc/UiUr8LOp9RI/AAAAAAAAEs4/H2fZvqpni7g/s320/Puerto+Viejo+(62).JPG" width="240" /></a></div><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">After all that, I ended up not doing the chocolate tour. The "30 minute walk" was actually closer to 50 minutes (one way) and my shoes are from the devil so I ended up with the biggest blister known to man. Seriously. I'd show you a picture to prove it, but it's just that gross. Those shoes will be thrown away before I leave for Panama tomorrow. Instead, I realized chocolate wasn't going to be enough for the hunger I'd worked up anyway, so I hobbled to a place for a <i>casado</i>&nbsp;for lunch:</span><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-0am7q90gHxA/UiUr8OTjMmI/AAAAAAAAEtI/aGGOrLa1OCA/s1600/Puerto+Viejo+%252863%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-0am7q90gHxA/UiUr8OTjMmI/AAAAAAAAEtI/aGGOrLa1OCA/s320/Puerto+Viejo+%252863%2529.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><i>(Typical Tico meal consisting of meat - in this case, chicken - plantains, rice, salad, and beans, sometimes red but obviously black this time)</i></span></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Tomorrow begins my last week before I head back to the States...</span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>shanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08801704430641971466noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8552562080155043752.post-55921605197182162882013-09-01T11:11:00.000-04:002013-09-01T11:11:41.805-04:00Puerto Viejo, Part I<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">A number of people got a random text from me the other day asking for their assistance in helping me decide what to do with my last remaining days in Costa Rica. There's quite a bit to do in the area, but it's not all cheap so I have to choose wisely. Yesterday, Saturday, I did a lot of walking and wandering, exploring the town and my options. I <i>think</i>&nbsp;I've officially decided what to do, but you'll have to check back in a day or two to see what that decision is. ;-) For now, I'll just fill you in on my wanderings from yesterday.</span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">After popping into some tour places in town to check out their offerings and see how prices compare (hint: they're all in cahoots - prices are the same everywhere), I found myself walking along the road that hugs the beach. I had reached out to a couchsurfing host in PV and an offer had been extended to stay with him, but for various reasons I decided to just stay in a hostel instead. On my walk, however, I realized I was right near his house and I thought I'd see if he was in. He was and we chatted for about an hour before I left to let him get on with his day. Not before he told me about a trail through the woods that led to a pretty little beach and also lent me a book on Guatemala, however. (I'm racing through the book because I have to give it back before I leave on Tuesday, but that's not a problem because it's really interesting.)</span><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-BG9KY0mKO8Q/UiNR5p2i28I/AAAAAAAAErI/v_JIyF2Rq4Y/s1600/Puerto+Viejo+(7).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-BG9KY0mKO8Q/UiNR5p2i28I/AAAAAAAAErI/v_JIyF2Rq4Y/s320/Puerto+Viejo+(7).JPG" width="320" /></a></div><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">It's kind of wild because the jungle-y forest goes right up to the beach here. I kept going back and forth between walking along the beach and walking through the woods, just to see how the scenery varied. Some sections of the beach have what I believe to be volcanic rock formations (seen in the middle right part of the photo above) that have tide pools in them. (Kathy, you would have <i>loved</i>&nbsp;it!) I saw things like this bright orange (empty) crab shell:</span><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-awQDI9-kekM/UiNT1yN9M3I/AAAAAAAAErU/aoHn2NDVqmg/s1600/Puerto+Viejo+(10).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-awQDI9-kekM/UiNT1yN9M3I/AAAAAAAAErU/aoHn2NDVqmg/s320/Puerto+Viejo+(10).JPG" width="320" /></a></span></div><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">&nbsp;And also this weird sea cucumber looking thing (you can't really tell from the picture, but it actually is in water:</span><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-UcgA5sByCNo/UiNT357JOTI/AAAAAAAAErc/2_BRePVsoYU/s1600/Puerto+Viejo+(11).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-UcgA5sByCNo/UiNT357JOTI/AAAAAAAAErc/2_BRePVsoYU/s320/Puerto+Viejo+(11).JPG" width="320" /></a></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Then, back on the trail, I saw big-ass spiders:</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-r3JbumxOCfA/UiNVUi7PJKI/AAAAAAAAErw/9ZHz_6bYAvY/s1600/Puerto+Viejo+(15).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-r3JbumxOCfA/UiNVUi7PJKI/AAAAAAAAErw/9ZHz_6bYAvY/s320/Puerto+Viejo+(15).JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">&nbsp;<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-FjM_lCpmR8Q/UiNVTzMbauI/AAAAAAAAEro/nFGwKkoPAxw/s1600/Puerto+Viejo+(16).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-FjM_lCpmR8Q/UiNVTzMbauI/AAAAAAAAEro/nFGwKkoPAxw/s320/Puerto+Viejo+(16).JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">...and a <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/slkirkpatrick/9641348706/">dead baby sloth</a> (linked instead of embedded in case you'd rather not have that image in your head). :-(</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Once I got to the beach that had been my destination, I sat and alternately watched the surfers and read before grabbing a beer from a nearby bar. I got back to my hostel in time to beat the rain and cook dinner. Interestingly, I think that grocery shopping and cooking even a simple pasta dish may be a sign that I'm ready to go home. It's kind of hard to believe that two weeks from today I'll be back in San Diego...&nbsp;</span></div>shanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08801704430641971466noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8552562080155043752.post-44429292018884542882013-08-31T12:53:00.000-04:002013-08-31T12:53:00.142-04:00More Costa Rican Wildlife<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Just in case you didn't actually click on that link I included the other day, I thought you might be interested in seeing some more of the colorful wildlife I caught shots of.</span></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Hfh0s11XafA/Uh7VgKdUWVI/AAAAAAAAEqE/MyFIOTa8zjo/s1600/Poas-Doka-La+Paz+(39).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Hfh0s11XafA/Uh7VgKdUWVI/AAAAAAAAEqE/MyFIOTa8zjo/s320/Poas-Doka-La+Paz+(39).JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><i>(Toucan. Duh.)</i></span></td></tr></tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-1h4Oy2W9sow/Uh7VfIJhXUI/AAAAAAAAEp8/v3N7pZKt-SI/s1600/Poas-Doka-La+Paz+(41).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-1h4Oy2W9sow/Uh7VfIJhXUI/AAAAAAAAEp8/v3N7pZKt-SI/s320/Poas-Doka-La+Paz+(41).JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><i>(Green macaw. I think.)</i></span></td></tr></tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-sxWlc4EYqkI/Uh7Vj7mV9kI/AAAAAAAAEqM/U6aTGXAtxIM/s1600/Poas-Doka-La+Paz+(48).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-sxWlc4EYqkI/Uh7Vj7mV9kI/AAAAAAAAEqM/U6aTGXAtxIM/s320/Poas-Doka-La+Paz+(48).JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><i>(Blue butterfly. Please don't ask me to get more specific than that!)</i></span></td></tr></tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-OKCCRXP8qP4/Uh7Vt2-xcWI/AAAAAAAAEqU/BLgdN46vZ7w/s1600/Poas-Doka-La+Paz+(53).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-OKCCRXP8qP4/Uh7Vt2-xcWI/AAAAAAAAEqU/BLgdN46vZ7w/s320/Poas-Doka-La+Paz+(53).JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><i>(How it's even possible that I got this shot, I'll never know)</i></span></td></tr></tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Z8zYv-VUHBA/Uh7Wzw5K6hI/AAAAAAAAEqw/-f0_3ADgxTM/s1600/Poas-Doka-La+Paz+(56).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Z8zYv-VUHBA/Uh7Wzw5K6hI/AAAAAAAAEqw/-f0_3ADgxTM/s320/Poas-Doka-La+Paz+(56).JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><i>(Big-ass boa constrictor)</i></span></td></tr></tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-VCWEVKOa0h8/Uh7WuvUhHGI/AAAAAAAAEqg/6ZjXICCuwRM/s1600/Poas-Doka-La+Paz+(58).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-VCWEVKOa0h8/Uh7WuvUhHGI/AAAAAAAAEqg/6ZjXICCuwRM/s320/Poas-Doka-La+Paz+(58).JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><i>(Cougars)</i></span></td></tr></tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-O0i8ygRqjSE/Uh7Wym_3ByI/AAAAAAAAEqo/zBzp199X-gU/s1600/Poas-Doka-La+Paz+(63).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-O0i8ygRqjSE/Uh7Wym_3ByI/AAAAAAAAEqo/zBzp199X-gU/s320/Poas-Doka-La+Paz+(63).JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><i>(Tiniest frog ever. Oh my god, SO cute.)</i></span></td></tr></tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-zNn1fZKft4E/Uh7XbG5mY2I/AAAAAAAAEq4/MjUJEmSsoOw/s1600/Poas-Doka-La+Paz+(69).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-zNn1fZKft4E/Uh7XbG5mY2I/AAAAAAAAEq4/MjUJEmSsoOw/s320/Poas-Doka-La+Paz+(69).JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><i>(Black and green poison dart frog)</i></span></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">So there ya go. If these caught your eye and now you really <i>do</i> want to go check out the others, <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/slkirkpatrick">here's the link</a> again.</span><br /><div><br /></div>shanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08801704430641971466noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8552562080155043752.post-64781080997697376292013-08-30T08:43:00.000-04:002013-08-30T08:43:01.035-04:00Greatest.Money.Ever.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-NhxA3xl_ZRg/Uh6aKyTR74I/AAAAAAAAEo0/aqOnv_jR_9g/s1600/DSCF1095.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-NhxA3xl_ZRg/Uh6aKyTR74I/AAAAAAAAEo0/aqOnv_jR_9g/s320/DSCF1095.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Are you seeing this? Costa Rican money has monkeys on it. And sloths. And <b>sharks</b>.</span><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-wNDNMt8s47Q/Uh6aOkPvRKI/AAAAAAAAEo8/-iH3Hn9N2gw/s1600/DSCF1097.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-wNDNMt8s47Q/Uh6aOkPvRKI/AAAAAAAAEo8/-iH3Hn9N2gw/s320/DSCF1097.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">If that's not the greatest thing ever, well then I just don't know what is. And yes, you're looking at 18 <i>million</i> colónes. Nope, I'm not rich - that's about $36.</span>shanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08801704430641971466noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8552562080155043752.post-4950456950534164662013-08-29T09:02:00.000-04:002013-08-29T09:02:00.264-04:00Volcano, Coffee, Wildlife, and Waterfalls<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I mentioned <a href="http://whereisshannow.blogspot.com/2013/08/i-hadnt-really-intended-to-spend-any-in.html">the other day</a> that I had a lot of activity planned for today and boy did I ever. I don't think I've had as much packed into one day since <a href="http://whereisshannow.blogspot.com/2013/07/extremes.html">Semuc Champey</a>. Today's undertaking was completely different from that, but it was still crazy fun and interesting. Let's begin, shall we?</span><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-NKkWck3XLaU/Uh6i1wpH_tI/AAAAAAAAEpM/VgjBJGlkp94/s1600/Poas-Doka-La+Paz+(5).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-NKkWck3XLaU/Uh6i1wpH_tI/AAAAAAAAEpM/VgjBJGlkp94/s320/Poas-Doka-La+Paz+(5).JPG" width="320" /></a></div><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">That's a picture of coffee cherries. They are ripe when they turn red, so these clearly aren't ready for the picking yet, but luckily harvest season doesn't begin until November. I'm getting ahead of myself, though. The day began at Doka Coffee Estate, where we got a full tour of the coffee growing, harvesting, and roasting process. Having been to both <a href="http://whereisshannow.blogspot.com/2010/09/whisky.html">whisky distilleries</a> and <a href="http://whereisshannow.blogspot.com/2010/07/something-to-wine-about.html">wineries</a> in the past, it was interesting seeing the ways in which they are all similar.</span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Next up was Parque Nacional Volcán Poás. The main crater, seen below, has a lake of milky blue water with sulfurous fumes wafting all around (yum!). A second, now extinct crater is a lake filled with acid rain water where very few organisms can grow and thrive. The park had a couple of pretty easy, paved trails to get to these two craters with unobtrusive signage along the way, explaining things about the area's foliage or wildlife. One sign cracked me up. It was an "in case of volcanic activity" sign that suggested such things as going back to the visitor center if you feel bad or can't breath, and not staying for a long time if you have asthma or hypertension. Uh...yeah?! What about keeping calm and evacuating quickly, that type of thing? :-) (Don't worry; there were signs that had those warnings, too.) According to our guide, we were very lucky because the volcano was completely clear - sometimes clouds and fog roll in super quickly and when that happens you can't see anything.</span><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-WAL0xtM5R5o/Uh63l8aa9HI/AAAAAAAAEpc/5iDSrL3ZBP8/s1600/Poas-Doka-La+Paz+(19).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-WAL0xtM5R5o/Uh63l8aa9HI/AAAAAAAAEpc/5iDSrL3ZBP8/s320/Poas-Doka-La+Paz+(19).JPG" width="320" /></a></div><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Our last stop of the day was La Paz Waterfall Gardens and, to be honest, I thought this would be the least interesting part of the day. My guidebook described the gardens as a "series of self-guided riverside trails linking five waterfalls" which also had a "butterfly observatory, aviary, trout lake, frog exhibit, and serpentarium." My thought was, meh. I've seen waterfalls, butterflys are boring, and trout? Really?&nbsp;</span><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-sr4Q74oVioo/Uh7DwJcplJI/AAAAAAAAEps/skLzgW-QiYU/s1600/Poas-Doka-La+Paz+(38).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-sr4Q74oVioo/Uh7DwJcplJI/AAAAAAAAEps/skLzgW-QiYU/s320/Poas-Doka-La+Paz+(38).JPG" width="240" /></a></div><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I'm actually happy to say that I couldn't have been more wrong. That toucan up there wasn't the first one I'd seen (although it <i>was</i>&nbsp;the first chestnut-billed one), but it was certainly the first I'd seen up close and personal. (Can you tell it's freaking me out just a little bit?) The butterflies were pretty (still boring, though. Ha!), I wanted to pet the snakes, and the frogs were AWESOME. There were even jungle cats - cougars and ocelots - that my guidebook hadn't mentioned. (None of the animals were removed from the wild, FYI. They were all rescues, as most had been kept as pets illegally, at least according to our guide.) Even the waterfall was pretty cool because our guide showed us this neat optical illusion. From a viewpoint opposite the waterfall, we stared at the middle of the falls for 10 seconds and then looked to the right of them and...it totally looked like the wall of rock was moving up as the water was flowing down. Neat-o. There are <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/slkirkpatrick">TONS</a> more pictures, if you're interested.</span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">It was also a really good food day, too. :-) Breakfast at Doka was a traditional gallo pinto, huevos rancheros, fruit, and coffee, but it was probably the tastiest gallo pinto I'd had in awhile. Lunch was buffet-style at La Paz and included things like potato and beef hash, <i>frijoles molidos</i>&nbsp;(mashed beans), roasted chicken, beet and potato salad, pasta, pizza, rice pudding, carrots and green beans, and a salad bar, plus other stuff I'm probably forgetting. For dinner this evening I was already back at my hostel, but I walked around the corner to a cevicheria and had a big-ass portion of ceviche that was quite good. It wasn't as good as what I had in Belize, but still pretty good.</span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Like I said, it was a long day. I had so much fun!</span>shanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08801704430641971466noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8552562080155043752.post-85407384656560229252013-08-28T09:11:00.000-04:002013-08-28T09:11:00.217-04:00<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I hadn't really intended to spend <i>any</i>&nbsp;time in Costa Rica's capital, San José, and then I ended up spending two nights there. Well, not spending any time in any of the Central American capitals was the plan all along and then I realized I was going to spend one night in SJ anyway, just as a stopping point before moving on to my next location, Alajuela. But then it looked like literally all of the accommodations in Alajuela were booked for Monday night and I did <i>not</i>&nbsp;want to get there and not have a place to stay. So, two nights in SJ.</span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">And the point of telling all of that? Oh, I don't know. Guess I just wanted to give a reason to explain how two days kind of disappeared with no real activity on my part.&nbsp;</span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Moving on...I'm in Alajuela now! It was probably my easiest city-to-city travel thus far - I walked one block, turned right, walked 30 meters, and the exact bus I needed pulled up as I got to the bus stop. Nice! Finding my way to my hostel in (yet another) city with no street signage, in a place where directions are given as distances from landmarks? That's another story, but oh well. I did eventually find it and was anxious to toss my stuff down and go on a search for food. That's when I had a scare that my cash had been stolen out of my backpack. The scare lasted most of the day, actually, until I found it just before dinnertime. I still have no idea what happened as the money was in a pocket where I <b>never</b> would have put it, one which was essentially on the outside of my pack. Since everything seems to have turned out ok, keeping a better eye on my valuables is a good lesson to be reminded of.</span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">After lunch, I had a couple of hours to wander/get lost and explore. I only had a couple of hours and not the whole afternoon because my weather report was predicting rain at 2pm. It was pretty dead-on. It was sprinkling as I reentered my hostel and the sidewalk was completely flooded because of the storms just a short while later. In any case, I got to see Central Park and the cathedral (pictured below), the National Theater, and a couple of other smaller parks, plus a stop at the post office.</span><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-1W5aY-MCBs0/Uh1ohaUy-gI/AAAAAAAAEok/7zUXDprIC80/s1600/Alajuela+(3).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-1W5aY-MCBs0/Uh1ohaUy-gI/AAAAAAAAEok/7zUXDprIC80/s320/Alajuela+(3).JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><i>(Everything was kind of dark and overcast, so I loved the pop of red back there)</i></span></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Tomorrow I have a full day of activity to make up for all of the inactivity of the last couple of days, but more on that later...</span>shanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08801704430641971466noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8552562080155043752.post-42168532679329200902013-08-25T11:29:00.000-04:002013-08-25T11:29:19.069-04:00"Adventures" To and In La Fortuna<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-36NA5bO0V4g/UhmUjcBJtkI/AAAAAAAAEns/mxwPGaiPk5k/s1600/Liberia.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-36NA5bO0V4g/UhmUjcBJtkI/AAAAAAAAEns/mxwPGaiPk5k/s320/Liberia.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><i>(Most modern church I'd see in all of Central America)</i></span></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">My first stop in Costa Rica was Libería and it was really nothing more than that - a stop. My only full day there was spent contemplating whether a trip to the peninsula for some beach time was worth it (decision: nope) and whether I should have another cold beer (decision: of course). The only picture I took the entire time is featured above. Most of the churches and cathedrals I've seen in Central America up until this point had been very Spanish colonial in style, so this one really stood out.</span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The first adventure with La Fortuna came with getting there. It seemed like it should be fairly straightforward...and it would have been...had I been aware that there are other places in the area also called La Fortuna. Oops, went to the wrong one. Although it was definitely out of the way, it wasn't such a big deal. I had to take three buses to get back on track...only to find out that the last bus I needed had left a few hours earlier. Oops again. So I was stuck in Tilaran, but the first bus the next morning left at 7am so no sense in crying over spilled milk, right? Besides, I never would've gotten this awesome picture of a very blue bathroom, complete with shampoo in little to-go cups if I hadn't stayed the night in Tilaran:</span><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-quyros6W7mw/UhmUya-unEI/AAAAAAAAEn4/tybxK1s-h_U/s1600/Tilaran.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-quyros6W7mw/UhmUya-unEI/AAAAAAAAEn4/tybxK1s-h_U/s320/Tilaran.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><i>(Shampoo matches the paint. And the water cup. And the toilet.)</i></span></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">On Saturday, the trip to La Fortuna was actually pretty easy (as easy as it should have been if I'd done it right the first time around, ha!) and I was here by just after 9am. I quickly got a lay of the land, got checked in and showered, had breakfast, and got signed up for a tour from 2-8pm.</span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The tour consisted of transportation to and from Arenal Volcano, time at the volcano's observatory lodge, a short nature hike to learn about the area's plants and animals, a longer hike to a waterfall including a couple of long, hanging bridges, a small museum of the volcano's history, and - what I think everyone was really looking forward to - a trip to natural hot springs in the area.</span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The volcano's most recent eruption was in 1968 and it spewed lava every day for more than 40 years after that. I guess I should've come to Costa Rica a couple of years ago! I didn't see any lava, but it was still pretty cool seeing the two faces of the volcano - the green face where everything is growing and pretty, and the black face that's been covered in ash and lava for the last few decades.</span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">At the beginning of the day, things were looking like this:</span><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-YloyRJRfxMM/UhoVNF7ZDjI/AAAAAAAAEoE/dby4NECAvzI/s1600/La+Fortuna+(2).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-YloyRJRfxMM/UhoVNF7ZDjI/AAAAAAAAEoE/dby4NECAvzI/s320/La+Fortuna+(2).JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><i>(View from my accommodations. That's a fire station in the foreground.)</i></span></td></tr></tbody></table>&nbsp;<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">But a few hours later, at about the time we were fully entrenched in our hike, it looked like this:</span><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-8FZyBPKFvhE/UhoVRWR1_FI/AAAAAAAAEoM/Ix3MCrN6rSE/s1600/La+Fortuna+(4).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-8FZyBPKFvhE/UhoVRWR1_FI/AAAAAAAAEoM/Ix3MCrN6rSE/s320/La+Fortuna+(4).JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><i>(Rain starting to come in)</i></span></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Yep, right around the time we got to the waterfall portion of the tour, the rain started coming down. It was a regular downpour and there wasn't a whole lot we could do about it, so in pretty short order we were soaked to the bone. It hadn't been too hot when we started and it didn't take long for us to be cold and fairly miserable. Most of us were keeping our spirits up, though, because there's not really much you can do when it comes to the weather (and weather in rainforest jungles in the rainy season, specifically).&nbsp;</span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">And, of course, as soon as we were back to the observatory and the hike was over, the rain stopped. But the timing was perfect because it was about the time when a family of sloths decided to make their move. Oh my god, all I really wanted during that tour was to see a sloth and I saw not one, but three! Including a baby! It was awesome. I don't have pictures - didn't even try because I knew with the lighting and the angle of the shot it wouldn't come out right, and I was more interested in actually <i>seeing</i>&nbsp;the sloths. I also didn't get pictures of toucans, howler monkeys, and a red-eyed tree frog for the same reasons. The tree frog was right up close, actually, and was so freaking cute and awesome.</span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Finally, it was time for the hot springs that we'd all been waiting for, especially now that we were cold and wet from the rain. We stripped down to our bathing suits and walked down a rocky path, reaching a large, flat rock that had water gushing over it to form a small waterfall. We were instructed to sit down and kind of slide jump into the pool below. We'd been told that these waters used to be cold and then they were boiling (enough to cook a chicken!) after the 1968 eruption, but now they are a comfortable 100 degrees. If you sat or kneeled in the pool, the water was up to your neck. Once we were all situated, the guides started handing out beverages - the national liquor guaro, made from sugar cane, mixed with Fresca. Then they came around with this lava mud that they spread on our faces to make masks. Even the guys were lining up for their spa treatments! It really was like a spa, too, because then I positioned myself under the waterfall and the water beating onto my neck, shoulders, and back was a really great massage. Adult beverage, mud mask, and thermal waters massage - quite the spa day, one that I hadn't even anticipated! There was also a cool little cavern similar to the one I saw at <a href="http://whereisshannow.blogspot.com/2013/07/extremes.html">Semuc Champey</a>. When our guide and two British girls broke out into song in that enclosed, echo-y space, I had to laugh.</span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">It was a long day, one that got a little rough in the middle, but it ended on a really great note.</span>shanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08801704430641971466noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8552562080155043752.post-2869853131970044442013-08-22T01:12:00.001-04:002013-08-22T01:12:31.915-04:00Arrived in Costa Rica<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Nothing really to report except that I have finally arrived in Costa Rica! It was a long time coming and there were many days when I said to myself, "</span><i style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Tomorrow</i><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">&nbsp;is the day I head for the border." And...then...I just didn't. I talked to a couple of friends about the reasoning behind that, but I'm not sure if I ever officially mentioned it here. Basically, I was having difficulty figuring out the logistics of transportation between places I wanted to visit here and since Costa Rica is more expensive, I figured I could soak up some more of the cheapness in Nica while I figured it out. I don't know that I've&nbsp;</span><b style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">actually</b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">&nbsp;figured it out yet (still), but with only three weeks left before I head back to the States, it was time to get a move on.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">And now a cool picture of windmills that I took from a moving bus. Cloud covered volcanoes in the background - of course - because they're everywhere here. :-)</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-DtWXv6nJEVY/UhWFYpudV-I/AAAAAAAAEnM/9S21VaUecuo/s1600/20130821_113700.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"> <img border="0" height="180" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-DtWXv6nJEVY/UhWFYpudV-I/AAAAAAAAEnM/9S21VaUecuo/s320/20130821_113700.jpg" width="320" /> </a> </div>shanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08801704430641971466noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8552562080155043752.post-87091769535030751992013-08-20T09:00:00.000-04:002013-08-20T13:09:07.610-04:00Playa Madera<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">It took me practically a week, but I finally got to one of the beaches of SJDS. I went to a hostel that I knew didn't have a minimum number of passengers requirement to go to Playa Madera. Unfortunately, that shuttle was full and I almost just decided to head to the pool at Pelican Eyes again instead. But I popped into a nearby surf shop to see if they had any shuttles going and, as it turned out, they had one leaving in 10 minutes. I'm kind of glad the hostel shuttle was full because it would have been a 25 minute, wooden bench, un-air-conditioned, super bumpy ride. The shuttle with the surf shop was in a proper SUV, air-conditioned, and took less time because we could go (a little) faster. Isn't it nice when things work out?</span><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-8KcvR2pnzZs/UhLeqIvCaYI/AAAAAAAAEmw/YLrQxZbU2bM/s1600/San+Juan+del+Sur+(24).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-8KcvR2pnzZs/UhLeqIvCaYI/AAAAAAAAEmw/YLrQxZbU2bM/s320/San+Juan+del+Sur+(24).jpg" width="320" /></a></div><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">It was high tide when I arrived, so there was just a little rocky spit of beach. I got maybe a <i>hair</i>&nbsp;more sun than I was planning on getting the day before, though, so I was pretty happy to see the one sandy section of beach covered in shade. (It was kind of on a slight hill, too, but oh well. Beggars can't be choosers.) I watched the surfers and read and dozed and swam and dozed some more before deciding to move out of the sun entirely. This little beach-side bar gouged you with their beer prices ($1.70/beer? What?), but at least it had a view:</span><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-boRHdL51eKE/UhLeswbMQXI/AAAAAAAAEm8/ZKctPnLMgH0/s1600/San+Juan+del+Sur+%252826%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-boRHdL51eKE/UhLeswbMQXI/AAAAAAAAEm8/ZKctPnLMgH0/s320/San+Juan+del+Sur+%252826%2529.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The sunset was lovely, but I just couldn't wait to get back to my hostel. I desperately wanted a cold shower to wash off the salt and sand...and two slices of pizza. (Hey! The heart wants what the heart wants!) Two full days of sun have left me browner and sleepier and I think I'm <strike><b>finally</b>&nbsp;ready to move on to Costa Rica</strike>&nbsp;ready to go to Costa Rica on Wednesday.</span><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-aTFAftPrW3I/UhLelyObqMI/AAAAAAAAEms/em8i0QNcc8U/s1600/San+Juan+del+Sur+%252832%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-aTFAftPrW3I/UhLelyObqMI/AAAAAAAAEms/em8i0QNcc8U/s320/San+Juan+del+Sur+%252832%2529.jpg" width="180" /></a></div><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">** I realized too late today that I forgot my camera, so all of today's pictures were taken with my phone. They still turned out pretty nice, but the sunset ones could have been better, I think.</span><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div>shanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08801704430641971466noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8552562080155043752.post-45289351146871744402013-08-19T08:28:00.000-04:002013-08-19T08:28:00.554-04:00Slice of life<br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-LzlJyhyIrN4/UhFigLYuqyI/AAAAAAAAEmQ/d2JvugIlMtc/s640/20130817_185752.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" /></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><i>(Party like a Nica, tip like a gringo!)</i></span></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I sent an email to a friend the other day that I thought was a pretty good story, so I decided to share it here as well. This actually happened on Friday night, not "last night," but it was written on Saturday, so.</span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-LzlJyhyIrN4/UhFigLYuqyI/AAAAAAAAEmQ/d2JvugIlMtc/s1600/20130817_185752.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"> </a> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> </div><blockquote class="tr_bq"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;">Yeah, so, last night all of the electricity in the entire town went out (although I didn't know that at first and thought it was just my block). I was just kinda gonna wait it out and see if it came back on, but I realized the battery on the computer I was using to play solitaire would only last so long, so maybe a beer was in order.</span><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;"><br /></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;">That's when I found out electricity was out all over because it was DARK walking down those streets. Most places were closed, but there was a small generator here and there providing a wee bit of light. I ended up going into a bar I walked into the other night and the owner, Mandy, even remembered my name (I *love* that). She introduced me to the gang of regulars and we all sat around drinking and playing Family Feud on her phone (not sure how that worked without an internet connection, actually, but whatever). Mandy was trying really hard to keep the refrigerators as cold as possible and was loathe to open it for just one beer, so she'd yell at the whole bar (probably a dozen of us in all) to give her their orders. Cracked me up because every single time there was a guy who didn't want a beer and then one and half minutes later he did and Mandy would curse up a storm.&nbsp;<img goomoji="360" src="https://mail.google.com/mail/e/360" style="margin: 0px 0.2ex; vertical-align: middle;" /></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;"><br /></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;">After a few hours, all of the lights and fans came whirring back on and everyone cheered. We were all looking forward to being able to go home and sleep in relative comfort with the help of our trusty fans.</div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;"><br /></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;">I got back to my hostel and had to ring a bell to be let back in. (A couple of the bar patrons had said it sucked for my hosts to have to be woken by a bell late at night and I said if they didn't want me to ring the bell, then they shouldn't have let me leave! Ha.) Just a quick ring, not too disturbing, wait a minute or two, no response. Did that a couple of times and was inching into seven minutes of waiting for the door to be unlocked when I just let the bell rip. Did the trick, but the gal seemed stunned. I guess I would be too if a fire alarm sounding bell yanked me out of sleep and a gringa was there at the door, smiling sheepishly to be let back in.</div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;"><br /></div></blockquote><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">[What's really funny is that my hosts just gave me a key to the front door. I've been here for four days already and just now got the key. I guess they don't want me to ring the bell after all!]</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">* &nbsp; &nbsp; * &nbsp; &nbsp; * &nbsp; &nbsp; * &nbsp; &nbsp; *</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">As cheap as beer is here (usually less than a dollar; an "expensive" beer is still less than $1.50), you just really don't want to drink it all day long. Lucky for me, I found this awesome smoothie place and have made it part of my daily routine to go there for a smoothie and some <a href="http://www.duolingo.com/">Duolingo</a> practice. So far I've tried dragonfruit/strawberry/mint, pineapple/celery/lemon, carrot/orange/mint, and cucumber/ginger/orange. That last one is my favorite and now I don't have to try any other iterations. :-)</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">* &nbsp; &nbsp; * &nbsp; &nbsp; * &nbsp; &nbsp; * &nbsp; &nbsp; *</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">A lot of the kids here have those toys that were popular in the 80s in the U.S. You know the ones with the two ball, rock-like things attached by a string or hard piece of plastic that when you move your hand in such a way they clank together over and over again? Yeah, those. At times the sound is annoying as all get out, but it's also kind of amusing seeing little kids as entertained by a toy that <b>I</b>&nbsp;was entertained with nearly 30 years ago. Aw, the 80s have finally found Nicaragua!&nbsp;</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">* &nbsp; &nbsp; * &nbsp; &nbsp; * &nbsp; &nbsp; * &nbsp; &nbsp; *</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">As you may have guessed by now, I'm still in Nicaragua. I was going to leave on Sunday and <i>then</i> I was going to leave on Monday. But at some point on Sunday I realized that a Monday departure just wasn't going to happen. I'm not exactly looking forward to the greater expense of Costa Rica and Panama. (For comparison purposes, my daily budget in Nica is $20-50, but I've never come close to $50 and there have been quite a few days that were below $20. The range for Costa Rica and Panama is closer to $35-75/day and it seems like it will be pretty easy to be within that range on a regular basis.) Plus, I haven't exactly figured out my route through C.R. and it looks like transportation could be difficult. Yeah. So. Not exactly in a hurry to leave the ease of San Juan behind. Maybe Tuesday...&nbsp;</span></div>shanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08801704430641971466noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8552562080155043752.post-49369029316887808112013-08-16T21:12:00.004-04:002013-08-16T21:12:55.397-04:00Shopping and swimming<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-vi4DbGjQg-I/Ug7D7j5nb2I/AAAAAAAAElg/LLXCIX94OEw/s1600/San+Juan+del+Sur+%252816%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-vi4DbGjQg-I/Ug7D7j5nb2I/AAAAAAAAElg/LLXCIX94OEw/s320/San+Juan+del+Sur+%252816%2529.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">San Juan del Sur is mostly on the map because of the surfing (which I don't do), but it's a pleasant enough place to while away a few days before heading to the more expensive countries of Costa Rica and Panama. For sure, it's one of the more gringo-tastic places I've been to in Central America. On the one hand, that's bad because prices tend to be more inflated than they should be (a room advertised online for $6/night was actually $15); on the other hand, communication tends to be a little easier because more of the locals speak English. Give and take, right?</span><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-AVVBx_SQck4/Ug7FIYiTJ9I/AAAAAAAAEls/Ig2qwUmOIRI/s1600/San+Juan+del+Sur+%25285%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-AVVBx_SQck4/Ug7FIYiTJ9I/AAAAAAAAEls/Ig2qwUmOIRI/s320/San+Juan+del+Sur+%25285%2529.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I've done a little bit of souvenir shopping over the past couple of days and have been reminded, as I was when I was doing the same thing in SE Asia, that sizes are a little bit different here than in the States. I bought a shirt for myself that fits perfectly...as long as it doesn't shrink in the wash...it's an XL. At home, all of my shirts are either small or medium. And no, I didn't accidentally buy a child-size shirt because I asked if it was for women! :-) It's a good thing I don't have any hangups about the letters on the tag, huh?</span><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-gSQ7_f44EWM/Ug7GJySbz6I/AAAAAAAAEl8/MQXKw0YbWNM/s1600/San+Juan+del+Sur+%25289%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-gSQ7_f44EWM/Ug7GJySbz6I/AAAAAAAAEl8/MQXKw0YbWNM/s320/San+Juan+del+Sur+%25289%2529.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I wanted to go to one of the local beaches either today or tomorrow (or both). The beach in SJDS proper is just a couple of blocks away, but it's not the nicest for swimming or hanging out so most people go to Playa Hermosa or Playa Maderas, both about 30-40 minutes away. The most common way to get to the beach is by <i>colectivo</i>&nbsp;or shuttle (which also typically has a requirement for minimum number of people). So, I again find myself in the situation where it's quite expensive to be a solo traveler. I ended up deciding to go back to Pelican Eyes Resort (where all of today's posts' pictures were taken) instead, because it's such a chill spot. The resort is built on a hill and there are three different levels, all with infinity pools overlooking the Pacific. I went last night and had a pretty decent sunset (nothing like in <a href="http://whereisshannow.blogspot.com/2013/08/caught-it.html">Ometepe</a>!), but tonight's was overcast and cloudy and looks like more of the same for tomorrow (I guess I'm glad I didn't go to the beach after all). Actually, as a matter of fact, torrential downpours have just started as I'm writing this...</span><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-MzcpRVbu2dk/Ug7GJ1-wjsI/AAAAAAAAEmA/0ZsgqssT4lI/s1600/San+Juan+del+Sur+%252814%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-MzcpRVbu2dk/Ug7GJ1-wjsI/AAAAAAAAEmA/0ZsgqssT4lI/s320/San+Juan+del+Sur+%252814%2529.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">My current plan is to get some errands and other shopping done tomorrow, and then head to Costa Rica on Sunday. What are <i>your</i>&nbsp;plans for the weekend?</span><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>shanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08801704430641971466noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8552562080155043752.post-8034831011719183532013-08-15T13:08:00.000-04:002013-08-15T13:08:00.300-04:00The Naked Tiger Hostel<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I've been in San Juan del Sur for the past couple days and I'm staying at <a href="http://www.nakedtigerhostel.com/">The Naked Tiger Hostel</a>. Go check out my full review <a href="http://wp.me/p1kOnR-WQ">HERE</a>.</span><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-P-ZfSDHkc7s/Ugw3pLykeVI/AAAAAAAAElM/hi5q41Jo55Q/s1600/NT+logo.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-P-ZfSDHkc7s/Ugw3pLykeVI/AAAAAAAAElM/hi5q41Jo55Q/s1600/NT+logo.jpg" /></a></div><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>shanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08801704430641971466noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8552562080155043752.post-34057946316230606112013-08-12T20:02:00.000-04:002013-08-12T20:02:11.679-04:00Ojo de Agua<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I'd mentioned <a href="http://whereisshannow.blogspot.com/2013/08/caught-it.html">having a plan</a> and indeed I had one. Yesterday, Sunday, I wandered the town, stopping for the occasional pic and beer and reading breaks, but that was the extent of my energy expenditure. One of my dorm mates <b>crammed</b>&nbsp;his day full - volcano hike from 6a-12p followed by a guided tour of the island til almost 6p, then he walked around a bit, had dinner and didn't get back to the room until after 8. It made me tired just hearing about his day!</span><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-L2pbho0geJ0/UglwkAHENFI/AAAAAAAAEkk/5NIVjzpnQ84/s1600/Isla+de+Ometepe+(15).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-L2pbho0geJ0/UglwkAHENFI/AAAAAAAAEkk/5NIVjzpnQ84/s320/Isla+de+Ometepe+(15).JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><i>(Believe it or not, there's actually a pretty big volcano behind that church)</i></span></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Since I wasn't really interested in paying $45 to go on a tour-guided motorbike to a gray sand beach called Playa Santo Domingo on the other side of the island, today I took the "direct" bus there instead. (I laugh in the face of whoever called it direct. It <i>is</i>&nbsp;a chicken bus, after all, so the 25km ride took nearly an hour and a half and, in reality, had a lot of stops. Oh well, it was pleasant enough.)</span><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-moJsj9SdmqY/UglzB0DWjFI/AAAAAAAAEk0/TcV7lEP66l4/s1600/Isla+de+Ometepe+(27).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-moJsj9SdmqY/UglzB0DWjFI/AAAAAAAAEk0/TcV7lEP66l4/s320/Isla+de+Ometepe+(27).JPG" width="240" /></a></span></div><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Upon arrival at the beach, I found that the water was...less than nice for swimming. It wasn't the Ganges River or anything, but it looked a little squicky along the water's edge. Rather than spend a few hours there as I expected, I found a place to grab a juice and read for a bit before I set back out. This time my destination was Ojo de Agua, two thermal spring water fed swimming pools in the middle of the forest.&nbsp;</span><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Baafmm7TE-o/UglzBy_RPMI/AAAAAAAAEk4/NpdQ5tVySXc/s1600/Isla+de+Ometepe+(33).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Baafmm7TE-o/UglzBy_RPMI/AAAAAAAAEk4/NpdQ5tVySXc/s320/Isla+de+Ometepe+(33).JPG" width="320" /></a></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The water was COLD, but after a nearly 3km, mostly unshaded walk, it was a welcome relief. It wasn't too crowded, so it was a relaxing place to chill out for a while and listen to the monkeys above us in the trees...until it started pouring rain, that is. Even the monkeys were annoyed and were howling their protests. Oh well. It had been a long enough day, anyway. Plus, I knew that by the time I got back to town and showered, I'd be *starving* and *way* ready for dinner. Guess what time it is now? ;-)</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>shanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08801704430641971466noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8552562080155043752.post-63607506911391256262013-08-10T20:23:00.000-04:002013-08-11T00:24:49.813-04:00Caught it!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-7Z19Pqe02vA/Ugb0PquatGI/AAAAAAAAEkA/mDVb-U7BjMw/s1600/Isla+de+Ometepe+(3).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-7Z19Pqe02vA/Ugb0PquatGI/AAAAAAAAEkA/mDVb-U7BjMw/s320/Isla+de+Ometepe+(3).JPG" width="240" /></a></div>&nbsp;<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">My general rule is that I like to see a place with my eyes for a day or so before trying to capture it through a lens. So when I arrived on Isla de Ometepe a little after 4pm today, I left my camera in my room with the rest of my things before setting out to see more of the town of Moyogalpa.</span><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-aM2E9lXQJHk/Ugb0YfA9oGI/AAAAAAAAEkU/-hLMj8FB0Oo/s1600/Isla+de+Ometepe+%25285%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-aM2E9lXQJHk/Ugb0YfA9oGI/AAAAAAAAEkU/-hLMj8FB0Oo/s320/Isla+de+Ometepe+%25285%2529.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I wandered a bit before stopping at a colorful, cheery looking place for a beer. My beer was just about finished when I happened to look up...and saw some crazy pink clouds. I looked in the other direction, saw more of the same, and got excited - THIS was going to be a good sunset! I practically sprinted back to my hostel to grab my camera (I can break my own rules!) and then kept sprinting to get to the dock for optimal viewing.</span><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-qccwRKi--HY/Ugb0ROtqwSI/AAAAAAAAEkM/WbQFk0SNjcs/s1600/Isla+de+Ometepe+%252810%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-qccwRKi--HY/Ugb0ROtqwSI/AAAAAAAAEkM/WbQFk0SNjcs/s320/Isla+de+Ometepe+%252810%2529.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I said a couple of weeks back that I'd been on a <a href="http://whereisshannow.blogspot.com/2013/07/yesterdays-sunset.html">glorious sunset mission</a>&nbsp;and, well, let's consider it mission accomplished. I can't even believe how intense this sunset was. I also can't believe that besides me, a couple, and a guy playing guitar, there were no other people hanging around to see it.</span><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/--qoHci5o6uY/Ugb0Oiiyg4I/AAAAAAAAEj8/qUEDUB7GJzQ/s1600/Isla+de+Ometepe+%252811%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/--qoHci5o6uY/Ugb0Oiiyg4I/AAAAAAAAEj8/qUEDUB7GJzQ/s320/Isla+de+Ometepe+%252811%2529.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The only other thing I've done since being here is check out some options for things to do. Although there are two volcanoes on this island that can be climbed - Concepci</span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">ón at 1610m and Maderas at 1394m - I...won't be doing that. It's 6-10 hours of steep, hot climbing and I just can't be bothered! But I've also found that nothing is exactly cheap here, either. Sixty dollars for a taxi to the waterfall on the other side of the island or for an afternoon of horseback riding; forty-five dollars by moto to a beach and nearby fresh water pools? I realize those are not super large numbers, but keep in mind that my daily budget is <b>$30</b> and that's supposed to cover <i>everything</i>&nbsp;including accommodations and food. Sure, I occasionally go over (because there are days I'm well under, so it balances out), but I'm not sure either of those activities will be worth it.</span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Don't worry. I have a plan...</span>shanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08801704430641971466noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8552562080155043752.post-42797998990154052462013-08-09T14:43:00.001-04:002013-08-09T14:43:33.994-04:00More Granada<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-yUFHl1utj5Y/UgUjvdgsf9I/AAAAAAAAEjk/iP1Pp-r931g/s1600/Granada+%252859%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-yUFHl1utj5Y/UgUjvdgsf9I/AAAAAAAAEjk/iP1Pp-r931g/s320/Granada+%252859%2529.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Granada definitely has me under its spell. I'd initially planned to leave yesterday, but only because I'd wanted to take the ferry from Granada to Isla de Ometepe and it only leaves twice a week. Then I realized that I could take the ferry from San Jorge instead and not only would it be faster and cheaper, but it's also more frequent. The plan, then, was to leave today. However...I woke up and my very first thought was, "oh, I'll stay just </span><i style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">one</i><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">&nbsp;more day."</span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-0OKk-vwgDG4/UgUjsmGivkI/AAAAAAAAEjQ/tXM-4NHuJkE/s1600/Granada+(55).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-0OKk-vwgDG4/UgUjsmGivkI/AAAAAAAAEjQ/tXM-4NHuJkE/s320/Granada+(55).JPG" width="320" /></a></span></div><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Ever since my walk past the <a href="http://whereisshannow.blogspot.com/2013/08/a-balm-and-salve.html">Convent of San Francisco the other day</a>, I'd been wanting to get back to see if I could get better pictures, ones that weren't being shot directly into the sun. I don't know if my timing was much better today, but it was a pretty morning and there's a good breakfast place across the street from the convent so it gave me a good reason to go there.</span><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-F9g19AJxOnw/UgUj0byQViI/AAAAAAAAEjs/vo7Oqqwwfy8/s1600/Granada+%252865%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-F9g19AJxOnw/UgUj0byQViI/AAAAAAAAEjs/vo7Oqqwwfy8/s320/Granada+%252865%2529.JPG" width="240" /></a></span></div><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">After breakfast it was still pretty early (and also not too hot yet), so I took advantage by doing a bit of shopping for a few essentials I needed. I took a bunch of random pictures along the way (as evidenced here) and had to laugh when a guy stopped me and asked "Are you just taking pictures of doorways or what?" Hey, buddy, are you the picture police? Let me take pictures of randomness and pretty colors if I feel like it! :-D</span><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-S-a6HbKFqrU/UgUjsmnp8QI/AAAAAAAAEjc/M1BW2cG-kAA/s1600/Granada+%252857%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-S-a6HbKFqrU/UgUjsmnp8QI/AAAAAAAAEjc/M1BW2cG-kAA/s320/Granada+%252857%2529.JPG" width="320" /></a></span></div><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Other than that, it's pretty quiet around here. I've been hanging out in the courtyard of my hostel, enjoying the cool, shady breezy and the crazy intense smell of the guavas that keep dropping from the trees all around me, occasionally taking breaks to get another <i>refresco</i>, or water, or beer. I<i>&nbsp;</i>do <i>intend</i>&nbsp;to leave tomorrow, but let's see how I feel when I wake up...</span><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div>shanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08801704430641971466noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8552562080155043752.post-74348404440709983512013-08-07T16:09:00.000-04:002013-08-07T16:09:31.183-04:00ZIPlining!<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="http://whereisshannow.blogspot.com/2013/08/a-balm-and-salve.html">Yesterday</a> I alluded to fun plans for today and if you're paying attention (and read the title!), you've figured out by now that those plans were to do a canopy tour and go ziplining. My friends over at <a href="http://www.laaventuraproject.com/">LaAventura Project</a>&nbsp;had told me how much fun they'd had doing it, so I set out to find a tour company practically upon arrival in Granada.&nbsp;</span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">It wasn't easy, though. After deciding to use Leo Tours (because it's 100% Nica owned and operated, and because Leo was so awesome), I had to make multiple trips back to their office. You see, there was a two person minimum and clearly I'm only one person. I put my name on a list with Leo and checked back with him three times over two days to see whether any other groups had come along that I could join. Finally, yesterday he told me that he'd arrange for me to go today, even if it was just me, and it would be the same price. Awesome! Guess who's getting a five star review from me on TripAdvisor? :-)</span><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Xk4AYXkivJg/UgKhi-WJ9WI/AAAAAAAAEis/yGs8c4XlHbc/s1600/Granada+(45).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Xk4AYXkivJg/UgKhi-WJ9WI/AAAAAAAAEis/yGs8c4XlHbc/s320/Granada+(45).JPG" width="320" /></a></div><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">This morning it was a short drive to the foot of the Mombacho Volcano and the Cutirre coffee plantation. The staff were really great about getting us safely strapped into the gear and explaining how the ziplines worked. The cables were up to 100 feet above the ground, with 17 platforms that had ziplines and bridges connecting them. The platforms give you pretty good views all around. I saw a baby falcon and a family of howler monkeys (who stared at us and seemed very curious about what exactly we were doing).</span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The guides take pictures with your camera so you can take it all in (and brake when necessary). You also have options to travel the ziplines in different ways:</span><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-odudlUuVL_I/UgKibD6DN0I/AAAAAAAAEjA/zw4l_OhjoBw/s1600/Granada+(49).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-odudlUuVL_I/UgKibD6DN0I/AAAAAAAAEjA/zw4l_OhjoBw/s320/Granada+(49).JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><i>(The "wonderwoman")</i></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-V33zxcnNWBU/UgKiYRTvBXI/AAAAAAAAEi4/JWjvdFShnP4/s1600/Granada+(50).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-V33zxcnNWBU/UgKiYRTvBXI/AAAAAAAAEi4/JWjvdFShnP4/s320/Granada+(50).JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><i>(The "monkey")</i><br /></span></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">But most of the time, you're just right side up and zipping along. I don't know how fast you go, but you really move!</span><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowFullScreen='true' webkitallowfullscreen='true' mozallowfullscreen='true' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dygqRawtWkgNxHRh_Nd4RIao02UWdMgKB4XG5vDHRozIAJY2B2g2zgAfkOOIehqQXMch22ybDM3Q3SyS9B3cQ' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' FRAMEBORDER='0' /></div><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">In that video, the guide just told me to keep looking at him (which is why I kind of look like a goon)...this is why I crashed into the other guide at the end of the line! You can hear me laughing as I say sorry. Whoops!</span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The last cable was probably the most fun, I think. It was the longest of all the cables and one guide was at the end, rocking the cables. This meant that I got bounced all around, swinging and swaying like crazy. It was really fun. :-)</span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">It's pretty warm right now, so I'm lying low and taking it easy. But in a couple of hours I have a massage scheduled at Seeing Hands. Seeing Hands is one of those initiatives that trains blind Nicaraguans to give them a way to support themselves. I did this <a href="http://whereisshannow.blogspot.com/2010/03/wilting.html">once before</a> and really enjoyed it, so I figured I'd give it another try. Plus, why not? Massage. Who needs an excuse for that?</span>shanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08801704430641971466noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8552562080155043752.post-24807489233559385592013-08-06T20:46:00.000-04:002013-08-06T20:46:09.582-04:00A Balm and a Salve<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Granada. Granada is my balm and salve right now. Yes, I know those two words essentially mean the same thing, but I needed a lot of healing after the last few days so I'm using both.</span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I'd been looking forward to Granada since <a href="http://whereisshannow.blogspot.com/2013/06/what-are-you-going-to-do-in.html">way back when</a>, so I was bound and determined to shake off the last bit of funk that was hanging on. I added my two favorite albums to a playlist and that cheered me immediately, but as if that wasn't enough - air conditioning on BOTH of my buses! So unusual and such a treat, I couldn't help but be happy! Then...I first laid eyes on the cathedral at Central Park and I just could.not.stop.grinning.&nbsp;</span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I spent today wandering around contentedly, taking pictures, drinking <i>refrescos</i>&nbsp;(cold drinks made from everything ranging from grains and seeds to fruits - I had dragonfruit and a variety of passion fruit), and making plans for tomorrow (how's that for foreshadowing?). I'll share some of my pics, but I apologize in advance for the quality - first it was overcast/cloudy and then I shot into the sun later.</span><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-RuekQ53fVzI/UgGBgzZFuxI/AAAAAAAAEiE/KwXQO43X5jI/s1600/Granada+(3).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-RuekQ53fVzI/UgGBgzZFuxI/AAAAAAAAEiE/KwXQO43X5jI/s320/Granada+(3).JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><i>(The aforementioned cathedral, built in 1712)</i></span></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I took a bunch of pictures at Iglesia La Merced which I'd heard and read had a tower that you could climb for awesome views of the city (and for only C$20, i.e. &lt;$1).</span><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Ldtd7NqPVio/UgGBPp_f8II/AAAAAAAAEh4/cImHKCNM0KQ/s1600/Granada+%252826%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Ldtd7NqPVio/UgGBPp_f8II/AAAAAAAAEh4/cImHKCNM0KQ/s320/Granada+%252826%2529.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><i>(A close up of the outside of the church)</i></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-YXZnbYaDbQs/UgGBimlCp4I/AAAAAAAAEiQ/jbg80HpVqmg/s1600/Granada+%252835%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-YXZnbYaDbQs/UgGBimlCp4I/AAAAAAAAEiQ/jbg80HpVqmg/s320/Granada+%252835%2529.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><i>(Coral loves Granada, too!)</i></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-aH8mi58zroc/UgGBlo9ZkEI/AAAAAAAAEiY/eFIP9T3uG_Y/s1600/Granada+%252842%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-aH8mi58zroc/UgGBlo9ZkEI/AAAAAAAAEiY/eFIP9T3uG_Y/s320/Granada+%252842%2529.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><i>(Selfie shot that took some *amazing* maneuvering)&nbsp;</i></span></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">After meandering for most of the morning and early afternoon, I ended up back at my hostel to rest a bit and it was around 3pm that I realized I hadn't eaten yet today. Whoops! The heat dulls my appetite, I think. The last few days I've been eating one meal a day, usually around 4 or 5pm. I got <i>gallo pinto con cerdo</i>&nbsp;(gallo pinto translates as painted rooster, but really it's rice and beans, with pork) and another <i>refresco</i>. Then it was back to the hostel for more resting and blogging and chatting, and the plan for later is a drink with some of my dorm mates.</span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Finally, how about a couple of my favorite shots from today, however random they may be?</span><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-T8YuoDXKLL8/UgGBrKNdTwI/AAAAAAAAEig/K9oT51gI3o0/s1600/Granada+%25286%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-T8YuoDXKLL8/UgGBrKNdTwI/AAAAAAAAEig/K9oT51gI3o0/s320/Granada+%25286%2529.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><i>(Convent of San Francisco - I like the light and dark colors with the telephone wires coming from all over)</i></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-0W0YuIy4DuA/UgGBPE89vsI/AAAAAAAAEhw/GBZ7N3PIp1A/s1600/Granada+%252813%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-0W0YuIy4DuA/UgGBPE89vsI/AAAAAAAAEhw/GBZ7N3PIp1A/s320/Granada+%252813%2529.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><i>(Just a man in a doorway with his bike...but I like it!)</i></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-wgZsowDsXQs/UgGBR0M6urI/AAAAAAAAEiA/Hx6qbyr1ioI/s1600/Granada+%252829%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-wgZsowDsXQs/UgGBR0M6urI/AAAAAAAAEiA/Hx6qbyr1ioI/s320/Granada+%252829%2529.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><i>(Random stairway to nowhere behind bars in the stairwell up the tower of Iglesia La Merced - I was digging how the shadows and lines were playing together)</i></span></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Happy Tuesday, everyone!</span>shanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08801704430641971466noreply@blogger.com4